The Myers Hurt Method Podcast

In this epsiode,  Dr. Myers Hurt shares a writing tip for using repeat word modifiers in sentence structures to make writing more impactful, using personal statements as examples. This technique involves repeating a key word in a sentence to emphasize its importance and create a sense of anticipation for the reader. The host attributes the concept to a book by Michael Deegan and offers two examples to illustrate the power of the repeat word modifier. For more personal statement tips, visit www.drmyershurt.com  

In this episode, I review my experience using Chat GPT to generate personal statements for radiology and neurosurgery. I share some of the generated content and my thoughts on it, as well as how I plan to use it to structure my own personal statements. While some of the generated content was a bit dry and repetitive, I found it helpful in identifying themes and ideas to include in my own writing. Overall, I think Chat GPT is a powerful tool that can be used to jumpstart the writing process, but it still requires some polishing and personalization.  If you are in the middle of writing a personal statement, I highly suggest downloading my free personal statement guide jam packed full of amazing tips for writing personal statements. You can get it free here: www.drmyershurt.com You can watch the video with screen sharing on Dr. Myer's Youtube Channel : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnbR9hQQt-ZhXU87pU9CH0g  

Hey there, it's Dr. Myers Hurt. In this episode, I want to discuss writing prompts and how to approach them. Specifically, I'll be using chat GPT to generate answers to some prompts and we'll discuss what we like and don't like about them. I'll also share my thoughts on the importance of writing about yourself and not relying on AI or paying someone else to do it. We'll go through a couple of prompts together, including one from Kaiser Permanente on diversity and inclusion. I'll provide some tips on how to approach these prompts and how to show, not tell, in your answers. So, let's dive in and get writing!  If you are in the middle of writing a personal statement, I highly suggest donwloading my free personal statement guide jam packed full of amazing tips for writing personal statements. You can get it free here: www.drmyershurt.com You can watch the video with screen sharing on Dr. Myer's Youtube Channel : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnbR9hQQt-ZhXU87pU9CH0g

Uncovering the power of six-word stories forever altered the way I write and connect with my audience - leaving readers on the edge of their seat, wondering what new twist I would surprise them with next. In this episode, you will be able to: Master the art of concise writing for high-impact messaging. Discover the potential of six-word stories in engaging storytelling. Develop captivating job interview stories and application narratives. Understand the role of thoughtful word choices and editing in writing success. Evoke powerful emotions with concise storytelling techniques. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:00 - The Power of Brevity in Writing, 00:01:08 - The Power of Six-Word Stories, 00:02:14 - The Importance of Imagery in Six-Word Stories, 00:02:58 - The Value of Choosing Your Words Wisely, 00:03:41 - Using Six-Word Stories in Communication, For more personal statement tips and resources on applying to residency, visit www.drmyershurt.com  

Hey guys! Whether it comes to writing an essay, a application or a personal statement for residency,  You always need fresh material. Don't re-use something you've used before. In this episode I talk about what program directors are REALLY looking for when it comes to any part of a written application.  If you are currently writing a personal statement, I suggest you check out my free personal statement tips guide specificaly for medical students applying for residency. Get it free from my website.

Ready for some tips that will actually set you apart in Residency Interviews?  We often focus on the wrong thing, test scores, rotations, letters of recommendations etc, and guess what that is what everyone else it putting on their applications too!  What we should be putting - is what YOU are best at.  In this episode, I go over:  How to highlight ONLY what you're best at  How to stand out from the crowd in Residency Applications And guess what - a lot of this comes through in your personal statement, it is the only way to showcase your true personality and get the attention of Program directors through your application. This is the way to stand out from the crowd. Check out my personal statement course that helps your craft an outsanding personal statement and as helped hundreds of students get their choice in placements. Check it out here.  Mentioned in this episode: The Unmistakable Creative

In this episode I talk about what's important to include in your personal statement, what information will demonstrate your personal growth and make your application stand out from the others.   Find more tips on my website, drmyershurt.com To join the Myers Hurt Method Course, visit https://www.drmyershurt.com/themyershurtmethodcourse

If you're feeling frustrated and overwhelmed with your current personal statement for residency applications, constantly editing and receiving minimal results, then you are not alone! In this episode, you will be able to: Grasp the significance of crafting a powerful personal statement for residency applications. Showcase your unique strengths, abilities, and fervor for your chosen medical field. Employ specific examples and engaging anecdotes to leave a lasting impression. Sidestep generic phrases and wield genuine language to elevate your application. Utilize mentor or colleague feedback to polish and perfect your personal statement.   To join the Myers Hurt Method Course, visit https://www.drmyershurt.com/themyershurtmethodcourse

In this episode, I give you a sneak peek into the Myers Hurt Method Signature Course. I go over what areas rank top in terms of what Program Directors are looking at to extend an Interview to you and how you can use some of the areas of the application to sell yourself. Learn more at www.themyershurtmethod.com   To join the Myers Hurt Method Course, visit https://www.drmyershurt.com/themyershurtmethodcourse

In this episode I discuss the smaller details that may often be overlooked on how to get an invitation to an interview for your choice residency programs. Find more info at www.drmyershurt.com   To join the Myers Hurt Method Course, visit https://www.drmyershurt.com/themyershurtmethodcourse

In this episode, I go over what successful personal statements look like and why you should take examples that your program gives you with a grain of salt. Ready to nail your personal statement so that you can get residency interviews at your programs of choice? The Myers Hurt Method Signature Course is open! https://www.drmyershurt.com/themyershurtmethodcourse To join the Myers Hurt Method Course, visit https://www.drmyershurt.com/themyershurtmethodcourse

In this episode I quickly go over what makes a personal statement unique, and it isn't what you think! Most people get this wrong, tune in to find out how to make your personal statement truly unique and get attention of program directors! See more about crafting your personal statement at www.drmyershurt.com To join the Myers Hurt Method Course, visit https://www.drmyershurt.com/themyershurtmethodcourse

To join the Myers Hurt Method Course, visit https://www.drmyershurt.com/themyershurtmethodcourse

To join the Myers Hurt Method Course, visit https://www.drmyershurt.com/themyershurtmethodcourse

Illegal questions are always a hot topic surrounding interviews. As you all know, the NRMP sets very strict communication rules surrounding the Match process, and have very specific requirements of what constitutes "legal" communication.  From the proverbial horse's mouth, the NRMP Code of Conduct reads: "To promote the highest ethical standards during the interview, ranking, and matching processes, program directors participating in a Match shall commit to: Refraining from asking illegal or coercive questions Program directors shall recognize the negative consequences that can result from questions about age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and family status, and shall ensure that communication with applicants remains focused on the applicant's goodness of fit within their programs". Furthermore, federal law prohibits most of these questions for any job, not just residency, and it is illegal to make hiring and firing decisions based on this information.  SDN, reddit, ValueMD, the usual forums people frequent usually have some version of "is this an illegal question" threads with arguments for and against. My personal and professional thought are that they will happen. Overall - it will happen - these things come up in casual conversation all the time, and usually work their way into conversations that are comfortable during an interview session. Sometimes it is not the interviewer, but the applicant who brings it up, and the conversation flows from there. Just a quick PubMed search has a 2016 study from Academic Medicine with a sample size of 11,000 applicants - Two-thirds of applicants reported being asked potentially illegal questions. Their data revealed that more women than men reported receiving questions about marital status or family planning in that study.  Similar results were reported in the initial study in 2013 in the same journal - about two-thirds report an illegal questions, and questions about marriage and childhood were a large majority of those questions. There is no red light, no button, no siren that goes off, and no red phone you pick up to report the incident when these topics slip out, and my recommendation is to just keep rolling and try to redirect to more topical issues. The rules are there to protect YOU, so you can offer the information, hospitals are just not allowed to ask you. Conspiracy theorists will say that you will give too much away by asking these loaded questions - and that may be true, but I'd say you are reading too much into it. Often these are not brought up in a malicious way. Some examples of how they can work their way into conversation: The real Catch-22 in my opinion is that they are important issues to you as an individual - if you have kids childcare is important - if you are a specific religion, perhaps being close to a specific house of worship is important - lots of decisions can hinge on these so called "illegal" topics and could help you pick one program over another, or at least give you some comfort about your overall "fit" with a program. .  If you feel you have been targeted - discuss first with the PD, then the NRMP / ACGME. Thanks for listening, hope you enjoyed the content and find it useful. Please subscribe to catch each new episode as they are uploaded, and if you find the content valuable please take a bit of time to leave a review on iTunes to help get the word out to other med students looking for answers.  Also feel free to give us some feedback on what you think we could improve on. Remember to send your questions to us through our website at www.matchgurus.com, or twitter @theMatchGurus - I personally answer every email and twitter DM we get. To join the Myers Hurt Method Course, visit https://www.drmyershurt.com/themyershurtmethodcourse  Our book is also available on Amazon in paperback and eBook - less that 10 bucks - it is a quick read you can easily knock out on the flight to your next interview. If you find it helpful, please take some time to leave a review for that on Amazon as well - it means a lot. And of course, any of you looking for in-depth specialty-specific preparation for your interviews drop me a line and we can discuss our coaching packages. Take care.

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Dr. Megan Tresenriter, one of the creators of Swap and Snooze - a free service you can use right now when scheduling interview travel.  They help arrange medical student hosts for interview candidates to not only help you save some money on the interview trail, but also get an authentic experience and see how the students or residents at that hospital live, their surrounding city, and a look at life outside the hospital. I take full responsibility for a patchy internet connection the day we talked, but we managed to edit together a good bit of our conversation - so without further ado - Dr. Tresnwriter: Thanks for listening, hope you enjoyed the content and find Swap and Snooze useful on the interview trail. With all of the money you'll save on hotels, you can pick up a copy of our book, or contact us for personalized coaching services and mock interviews.  Please subscribe to catch each new episode as they are uploaded, and if you find the content valuable please take a bit of time to leave a review on iTunes to help get the word out to other med students looking for answers.  Also feel free to give us some feedback on what you think we could improve on. To join the Myers Hurt Method Course, visit https://www.drmyershurt.com/themyershurtmethodcourse Thanks again, remember to send you questions to us through our website at www.matchgurus.com, or twitter @theMatchGurus. Take care.

While I'm sure you all hang on my every word, just in case any of you skip to the next track at the at the end of every show, I want to lead off this episode with a reminder that my partners and I are primarily a boutique coaching and mock-interview service. Too many times we've seen very strong applicants either sound average or even absolutely tank their interviews, and conversely weaker candidates outshine their peers and end up high on rank order lists. Interview day means a lot, you only have a handful of hours with a handful of people to impress, and there are things we can teach you that help you put your best foot forward when it matters the most. Our calendar is filling up quickly, but we offer a free 15 minute trial to show you what we can do, and our most popular package is now discounted for the remainder of this 2017 season to just $499 for three 30 minute interviews.  After the first interview, you'll end up with explicit feedback on your verbal and nonverbal communication style, specific diction to use when answering questions that will help you stand out, and how to work the strongest points of both your personality and CV into the questions you are sure to be asked. We do the same homework I ask you to do and we role-play specific programs in specific cities to best simulate your actual interview day. The remaining two interviews give you a chance to put that feedback into action, and approach questions with a new angle that highlights what program directors want to see.  It is not too late to any of you who are listening to this in the middle of or even towards the end of your interview trail - if you were just blindsided by questions you didn't prepare for, or had confidence walking into your first few interviews but now want to polish some rough edges before you talk with your dream program - drop us a line as well and we can look at our schedule. Allright - for today's topic, to cap off the questions you should be asking programs, I want to simply read an article I wrote for Student Doctor Network entitled The Million Dollar Question.  Link is in the shownotes, and it is based on advice I've given countless times, and still think holds true. I want to read it only so that the content isn't diluted by one of my usual ramblings, and so that you can reflect on why you think it is important, and how it can help you ultimately  decide on the program that is right for you. The Million Dollar Question   Interview season. The time of year that roads and skies swarm with the best and brightest medical students to all corners of the country taking aim at the next step in their training – residency. Believe it or not, behind the shiny brochures, extravagant dinners and polished powerpoint slides, residency programs are just as nervous about attracting top talent as you are about getting your top choice. The interview trail is usually a blur of dry cleaning bills, rental cars, and the smell of breath mints masking cheap coffee mixed with nervous sweat. The broken record of the obligatory "strengths and weaknesses" question loops in your head. One of the more terrifying moments in the day comes when an interviewer asks: "What questions do you have for me?" Regardless of who asks it–the intern only four months above you in training or the gatekeeping program director–you know you have to ask something. So why not make it count? Things like call schedule, orientation timelines, research requirements, away rotations, moonlighting, and meal plans may look important to you on paper, but should not be foundations of choosing one program over another. In fact, the best questions regarding most of these details can not truly be asked until you are in fact already a resident. The proverbial hindsight being of course 20/20. Is a meal plan a perk if the food is terrible? Moonlighting opportunities? Moot point if your paperwork and 45-minute commute are already pushing duty hour restrictions. It is simply not possible to ask an informed question on the specifics of most logistical things before setting foot in the hospital. The best bang for your buck in this golden opportunity to ask them anything boils down to one "Million-Dollar" question: Where do the graduates go? Most programs are proud to tell you, and will have specific data on hand for at least the last 3 to 5 years. Fellowship, small group practice, academic center, private practice, rural areas, urban centers, with program alumni, unemployed, mom's basement–the nuance in these specifics will speak volumes. From this data you can easily glean: board passing rate research requirements the reputation of the program over geographic regions the reputation of the program in competitive fellowships a network of alumni to help with future job placement faculty strengths procedure exposure much, much more If all graduates of the plastic surgery program you are looking at go into a maxillofacial fellowship at an Ivy League university hospital, and that aligns with your goals, great! You can assume the program has a good reputation, skilled specialty faculty, sound research, strong professional conference participation, and that residents see a heavy maxillofacial caseload. If this is not in tune with your dream of becoming a burn specialist however, you may want to look at programs with a different focus. You may feel like a specific family medicine program trains the most well-rounded doctors by exposing them to a rural patient population and teaching procedures like colonoscopies and cesarean sections. If on the other hand, you were planning on practicing in an urban area after graduation, those procedures will be lost to specialist. A residency program at a larger training institution might be better suited to your future goals of working as a primary care physician in an urban, specialist-heavy environment. Variety is paramount here. Private practice, fellowship, rural, urban, hospital setting, outpatient setting, in-state, out of state, etc. A diverse mix of jobs tells us that the graduates leave the program prepared for anything and are competitive in any marketplace. Free white coats each year? That will run the department a few dollars annually. Free food? Maybe a few thousand dollars over the course of a residency. Daycare? I'll admit that might be hard to pass up in certain instances. Upon graduation, however, the stakes go up exponentially. Consider the above scenarios: a plastic surgery program can graduate three to four residents annually with average starting salaries in the $300,000 range. A family medicine program can churn out six to eight graduates with starting salaries of about $150,000. Crunch those numbers, and you guessed it: $1,000,000 worth of contracts signed by each graduating class. Follow all of the usual advice: put your best foot forward, have fun, be yourself, and get ready to talk about the summer research poster you submitted at least 30 times. When the time comes–and it will–remember the "Million Dollar" question, and pay attention to how it either expands or limits the scope of your future practice. Most importantly, envision yourself and your level of future happiness in the scenarios that unfold. Closing: Short and sweet today - thanks for listening, as usual I hope you enjoyed the content and find it useful. Please subscribe to catch each new episode as they are uploaded, and if you find the content valuable please take a bit of time to leave a review on iTunes to help get the word out to other med students looking for answers.  Also feel free to give us some feedback on what you think we could improve on. Remember to send your questions to us through our website at www.thematchgurus.com, or twitter @theMatchGurus - I personally answer every email and twitter DM we get. To join the Myers Hurt Method Course, visit https://www.drmyershurt.com/themyershurtmethodcourse  Our book is also available on Amazon in paperback and eBook - less that 10 bucks - it is a quick read you can easily knock out on the flight to your next interview. If you find it helpful, please take some time to leave a review for that on Amazon as well - it means a lot. And of course, any of you looking for in-depth specialty-specific preparation for your interviews drop me a line and we can discuss our coaching packages in more detail. Take care.

Today I'll continue the series of questions you need to ask programs with three more areas of focus. Remember that each and every program will have some time for you to ask THEM questions. Not asking anything makes you come across as uninterested, asking something you can look up online makes you look like you didn't do your homework, and asking good questions can show that you know what you are talking about.   I'll follow the AAMC document introduced last episode, link in the shownotes, and and cover three new topics. My goal is to explain the logic behind them, and let you know what to expect in an answer. Employment Issues What are the basic resident benefits? Is parking a concern for residents at your program? Are meals paid for when on call? What is your family leave policy? Is there reimbursement for educational supplies and books? Are moonlighting opportunities available? What are the rules for moonlighting? How are residents represented at the institution level? How is the resident member of GMEC selected? Is there a union? Is membership mandatory? Are there dues? Is there a House Officers Association? Questions to specifically ask other Residents What are the strengths and weaknesses of the program? Would you consider the same program if applying again? Is there an appropriate balance between service obligations and the educational program? Is there enough ancillary support to minimize "scut?" What has changed since you came to the program? Is the program responsive to suggestions for change? How accessible is the faculty? Is the relationship with faculty collegial? Do the residents get along with one another? How do your residents get along with residents in other programs? In what activities are you involved outside of the program? How does your spouse/significant other like the city/area? Questions to ask Yourself Finally, you will likely find yourself facing a decision between one of several programs which are all extremely similar from academic and patient-care standpoints. At this time, it is very important to consider factors relating to your personal happiness and comfort for the duration of your residency. Can I be happy working in this program and with these people? Am I confident in the program and the sponsoring institution? Are there factors that make this place (city/town/rural area) an attrac tive place for me to live during my residency? (Factors that you may include are prox imity to immediate and extended family, happiness of spouse/significant other, housing, cost of living, quality of secondary school system, community opportunities, and recreational activities.) Closing: Unfortunately that's all the time we have for today's show. Thanks for listening, hope you enjoyed the content and find it useful. Please subscribe to catch each new episode as they are uploaded, and if you find the content valuable please take a bit of time to leave a review on iTunes to help get the word out to other med students looking for answers.  Also feel free to give us some feedback on what you think we could improve on. Remember to send your questions to us through our website at www.thematchgurus.com, or twitter @theMatchGurus - I personally answer every email and twitter DM we get. To join the Myers Hurt Method Course, visit https://www.drmyershurt.com/themyershurtmethodcourse  Our book is also available on Amazon in paperback and eBook - less than 10 bucks - it is a quick read you can easily knock out on the flight to your next interview. If you find it helpful, please take some time to leave a review for that on Amazon as well - it means a lot. And of course, any of you looking for in-depth specialty-specific preparation for your interviews drop me a line and we can discuss our coaching packages. Take care.

Today I'll continue the series of questions you need to ask programs with three more areas of focus. Remember that each and every program will have some time for you to ask THEM questions. Not asking anything makes you come across as uninterested, asking something you can look up online makes you look like you didn't do your homework, and asking good questins can show taht you know what you are talking about.   I'll follow the AAMC document introduced last episode, link in the shownotes, and and cover three new topics. My goal is to explain the logic behind them, and let you know what to expect in an answer. Clinical Duties What is the general call schedule? What provisions are made for back-up call or sick-call coverage? What type of structure for supervision is in place? Do your residents express that there is an appropriate balance between independence and supervision? How does the resident's autonomy change as he/she progresses through the program? What type of ancillary support is available (phlebotomy, respiratory therapy, social workers, etc.)? Does the general volume of clinical responsibility support a balance between service and education? Do your residents express they are involved in too much non-educational activity (i.e., "scut work")? Resident Performance How often are residents evaluated? What is the structure of the evaluation (forms, face-to-face, etc.)? What other forms of feedback does the resident receive ( in-training exam, etc.)? What support structures are in place for residents in academic need? Program Performance What is the status of the program's accreditation? If there were any citations at the last review, what has been done to correct them? When is the next Residency Review Committee (RRC) review? Are there any plans for changing the program size or structure? What is the status of the last Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Institutional Review? How solid is the financial status of the sponsoring institution? How committed is your institution to resident education and graduate medical education in general? How isthis evidenced? What percent of your residents complete your program? What percent of your graduates pass the specialty boards on their first attempt? Where do your graduates go (e.g., fellowship, academics, private practice)? Closing: Unfortunately that's all the time we have for today's show. Thanks for listening, hope you enjoyed the content and find it useful. Please subscribe to catch each new episode as they are uploaded, and if you find the content valuable please take a bit of time to leave a review on iTunes to help get the word out to other med students looking for answers.  Also feel free to give us some feedback on what you think we could improve on. Remember to send your questions to us through our website at www.thematchgurus.com, or twitter @theMatchGurus - I personally answer every email and twitter DM we get. To join the Myers Hurt Method Course, visit https://www.drmyershurt.com/themyershurtmethodcourse  Our book is also available on Amazon in paperback and eBook - less than 10 bucks - it is a quick read you can easily knock out on the flight to your next interview. If you find it helpful, please take some time to leave a review for that on Amazon as well - it means a lot. And of course, any of you looking for in-depth specialty-specific preparation for your interviews drop me a line and we can discuss our coaching packages and mock interview services. Take care.